"I remember that first April. The air was so warm. The skies so clear. The birds all singing so loudly as the morning sun warmed my face and brought forth the promise of Spring. It's April now again and through the smoke the sun no longer shines and the birds no longer sing...I'll be home soon..." Well done and great walk back through time with the old Sharps, Doc!
Very many thanks for posting this excellent tutorial! there must have been a considerable amount of research put into this, and it shows in the excellent content, I look forward to viewing more vidoes of this quality! Chris B.
Great shooting with an historic rifle. My Sharps is an Italian replica and is not only fun to shoot but reaches back in firearms history to a turning point. The Sharps is the only rifle that transitioned from percussion cap to brass cartridges and is still being manufactured today.Thank you for your work..
Hello Sir, and thanks for the comments. I agree, with your assessment. I had a great time immersing myself into the historical Sharps experience. I was always amazed at the gracious transition the Sharps made to the contained brass cartridges conversion, while other guns of this same era failed at this and were cumbersome at best. Regards....Doc
I was loaned to the Conservation Dept from the Collections Dept, NMAI, Smithsonian, because I was the only person who was familiar with the Indian owned guns in the Collection. Together with Conservators and interns we cleaned and waxed the guns that were destined to go on display in September 2004. I worked on a Sharps that had the wafer patent. I was astonished by the mechanism. A member/friend of my muzzle loading club had the Pedersoli repro and he loved it. Your rifle looks like it was well cared for, and you did a yeoman's job of defending that stone bridge with it.
Hi Robert, Let me reiterate, ....You had a dream job at the Smithsonian ! My gun is not martially marked, but is well preserved. Thank you for noticing the stone bridge. About 40 years ago a local railroad bridge was torn down, so I purchased the stone and re-built it on my property. So I guess one could say I've been working on this video set since then. Thought it looked appropriate for the Sharps............Doc
@@robertrobert7924 They are sandstone, which is softer than granite. But, believe it or not, Granite splits easier. We moved them with a large backhoe that a friend owned. We could lift up to a two ton block. Sandstone is about 160 pounds a cubic foot, Granite is heavier, so our largest block was about 3000 pounds. Regards....Doc
@@dr.durellshepard398 WOW and double dang. I guess that bridge isn't going anywhere. The exterior of the NMAI Museum on the DC Mall is made of sandstone. It is not a traditional building, but rather an art form. There are photos of it on the net. There were some very small blocks leftover and we got permission to take them as souvenirs. I carved NMAI, 2004, and my intials, on 3 of the 4"x12" flat sides of my block as a rememberance. The blocks were aproximately 12x12x4 inches. They were basically used as a facia veneer. The 12" x 12" face was very rough.
@@robertrobert7924 Hi Robert, That is a nice customized remembrance of your time there. I looked at the on line photos and it appears to be a lighter whitish-yellow than the stone I used. Mine is more reddish. Mine originally came form the Portland, Conn. brownstone quarry, which provided stone for the brownstones in Brooklyn N.Y. among many other sites. It's all great.....Doc
Muchas gracias por el amable comentario. Me alegra que hayas disfrutado del vídeo del rifle Sharps. Fue muy divertido hacer los cartuchos. Mis mejores deseos desde EE.UU.
As always, good job! I especially liked the deep dive into the pellet priming system. I have a 50-70 conversion rifle and carbine that still retain this mechanism. I use starched linen in my Ped repo and get 100% ignition.
@@dr.durellshepard398 Yes, leaves only ash. I use a 10 to 1 mix of Peal starch, hang to dry and then iron it. Comes out like a piece of paper. I cap the end with tea bag paper, seems like my wife has a life time supply for me. You can varnish the completed cartridge if you need some moisture protection. The vanished cartridge is almost as solid as a brass case and leaves only ash. Shoot straight my friend.
@@oldscoutgp Very interesting, I will take a serious look at that technique, thank you. I am a little apprehensive about letting the wife see me with an iron in my hand! She'll have me starching and ironing doilies and tea cozy's etc, etc, ....................... (º¿º ) [ old guy "emotion icon"]
@@dr.durellshepard398 Oh no, you do not want to go down that road. Best done with no supervision, along with appropriating tea bags for the superior end cap paper.
Awesome video. I have a Pedersoli Sharps carbine. I make my Sharps cartridges very similar to yours except that I use either decorative tissue or tracing paper for the base, which appears to be a little more durable than the paper towel you use, but is still thin enough for the percussion cap to blow through. I also use the Era Gone .54 Richmond Sharps bullet. I really enjoy your videos. Thanks.
Hello and thanks for commenting. A friend of mine has a Pedersoli, a very nice arm, I'm sure you have great fun shooting yours. Yes, the paper towel is very flimsy, but I shoot them as soon as I load them. They wouldn't transport well. It is very porous, so they are sure fire, even when using the weak re-enactor caps. I love the Era Gone .54 Richmond Sharps bullet, and have used it in my Starr carbine with good results, but the ring tail fit this gun well. Regards...Doc
Another great video Doc, perhaps one of your best yet! I really enjoyed seeing the pellet primers and tube. I was hoping you were going to replicate and shoot them - LOL! Keep up the great videos 🙂
Hello Sir, and thank you for commenting with the additional information. So unfortunate they demolished the old factory instead of repurposing it like Winchesters & Marlins.
Welcome aboard Sir, glad you found the channel. Southpaws Unite ! Thanks so much for mentioning the film-work, I do put considerable time into it. Regards.....Doc
I really enjoyed the video and cinematography is excellent. So much here to enjoy. I was wondering if you had to clean the breech of fouling during the shooting? I had never seen the a pellet primer and wondered what they looked like. Also interesting stone bridge you don’t see many of those out west.
Glad you found it interesting, and thanks so much for the neighborly commentary. I did wipe the bore on occasion, the breech did get sluggish but not inoperable. I built the stone bridge about 25 years ago out of salvaged stone blocks. Regards....Doc
Hi John, Always good to hear from another Sharps enthusiast. There design did lend themselves well to cartridge conversion, many others did not. Happy shooting.....Doc
Wow, Doc! I truely enjoy watching your guns, and also your surroundings, and the way you work. I used to have a Civil War Sharps saddle ring carbine, with the pellet priming system intakt. I never shot it, but the person who bought it uses it a lot, and is very happy with it. He shoots full loads, and the action seals gas tight. The gas seal / falling block design is very interesting. We always hear how air pockets must be avoided in black powder loads, but the block in these have a hollow cavity behind the chamber. There will allways be an air gap in these, and it is made intentionally. I have often wondered if this gives a "magnum" effect, or if it helps gas sealing the mechanism? I suspect the mechanism to gas seal better with full loads, rather than reduced loads? Yours seemed to do real well. Replica percussion Sharps often struggle with the gas seal. Their mechanism is simpified, and not true to the originals. They do not have the hollow cavity in the block. At least the ones that I've seen. I have more faith in original guns, and quit replikas years ago. Thanks for sharing, you're the best!
Hi John, I was thinking, while making this video that you may enjoy this gun. I've been looking at it for years and this was the first time I shot it. I was not disappointed. And thanks so much for the kind words and comments. As for the air pockets, I was thinking the same thing myself. But, then I concluded that these guns were shot millions of times and they were fine. So I guess if the powder is burning in a controlled way, ...off the back of the cartridge, into the air space, it is OK. But if it allowed to burn front to back or all at once, then it could detonate. Similar to a small charge,.... of slow burning smokeless...... in a very large case. My 1853 Sharps has a tiny air space and a platinum seal, I have not shot it yet. Regards....Doc
@@dr.durellshepard398 Very interesting, Doc! I have also been thinking that this "controlled" airspace in the rear of the load, somehow has a different effect than an unproperly seated ball in a muzzleloader. Probably some knowledge and wisdom that has gotten lost over time here. I am often impressed what they accomplished back in the day, by quite primitive means. Clever guys!
Hello Sir, Even when the plate is totally clean it doesn't seem to do much, and gets frozen with fouling in short order. Still a super arm. Regards ...Doc
Hello Noah, I purchased it at a gun show about ten years ago, from a really nice old gentleman who specialized in antique arms. He has since passed but is fondly remembered for his knowledge and reputably dealings. They are out there....Best of luck....Doc
Hello Doc, again I really enjoyed this video. Im curiuos, at what point did you apply lube to your bullets, i'm guessing you dipped them sometime after you finished the construction of the round. Thanks again, Jeff
Hi Jeff, I lubed the bullets just after final construction simply by rubbing a stick of SPG onto them and smoothing it out. That works OK for a smaller number of rounds......Doc
You have amazing videos, I am an active shooter with black powder guns and Sharps rifles. I hold the Slovak record:-) I used to have videos here with almost 4000 subcribes, but I deleted the videos and the channel is currently inactive. Where are you from ? Best regards, Rado
Dobrý deň Rado, ďakujem za milý komentár. Môj starý otec bol zo Slovenska. I am in USA on the East coast. Congratulations on your shooting record. I would have enjoyed seeing your videos. Did You-Tube give you a hard time about them? It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Regards ....Doc
What Was That Buffer Material You Used In The Paper Cartridges Doc Talcum Powder Or Flour 😀 I Never Knew You Could Print Out Papers From Sharps Too Roll Your Own Cartridges 😎😇😊 Really Neat Rifle And a Good Shooter
Un ejemplar muy bien conservado como todos los que nos muestra en sus vídeos. En Espańa también ańadimos sémola de maíz a los cartuchos para completar las cargas de pólvora negra. Un saludo.
Hola Alberto, y gracias por tu continuo apoyo al canal. Me complace decir que esta pistola está en muy buenas condiciones. Disparo cargas reducidas en la mayoría de mis viejas armas, por lo que la harina de maíz es muy útil para llenar el espacio aéreo. Saludos desde USA.
Hello Sir, and thanks for commenting. The nitrated coffee filters do burn exceeding well and make a superior cartridge. Much safer in the woods as you describe. Regards....Doc
Very sorry to hear that Sir. If you download a free advertisement blocking software they should all go away. I don't get a penny from the ads. They just distract from my content and annoy the viewer. Good luck......Doc
"I remember that first April. The air was so warm. The skies so clear. The birds all singing so loudly as the morning sun warmed my face and brought forth the promise of Spring. It's April now again and through the smoke the sun no longer shines and the birds no longer sing...I'll be home soon..."
Well done and great walk back through time with the old Sharps, Doc!
Thank you Sir for the eloquently stated sentiment......Doc
Very many thanks for posting this excellent tutorial! there must have been a considerable amount of research put into this, and it shows in the excellent content, I look forward to viewing more vidoes of this quality! Chris B.
Hi Chris, Welcome to the channel. Thanks so much for the kind review. I really enjoyed shooting this iconic weapon. Regards...Doc
Great shooting with an historic rifle. My Sharps is an Italian replica and is not only fun to shoot but reaches back in firearms history to a turning point.
The Sharps is the only rifle that transitioned from percussion cap to brass cartridges and is still being manufactured today.Thank you for your work..
Hello Sir, and thanks for the comments. I agree, with your assessment. I had a great time immersing myself into the historical Sharps experience. I was always amazed at the gracious transition the Sharps made to the contained brass cartridges conversion, while other guns of this same era failed at this and were cumbersome at best. Regards....Doc
You make EXCELLENT videos and your channel is very underrated
Thank you Sir, for watching and the kind comment. Your observation echoes my sentiment exactly. Regards....Doc
I was loaned to the Conservation Dept from the Collections Dept, NMAI, Smithsonian, because I was the only person who was familiar with the Indian owned guns in the Collection. Together with Conservators and interns we cleaned and waxed the guns that were destined to go on display in September 2004. I worked on a Sharps that had the wafer patent. I was astonished by the mechanism. A member/friend of my muzzle loading club had the Pedersoli repro and he loved it. Your rifle looks like it was well cared for, and you did a yeoman's job of defending that stone bridge with it.
Hi Robert, Let me reiterate, ....You had a dream job at the Smithsonian ! My gun is not martially marked, but is well preserved. Thank you for noticing the stone bridge. About 40 years ago a local railroad bridge was torn down, so I purchased the stone and re-built it on my property. So I guess one could say I've been working on this video set since then. Thought it looked appropriate for the Sharps............Doc
@@dr.durellshepard398 How did you move those heavy sones into place? Are they granite?
@@robertrobert7924 They are sandstone, which is softer than granite. But, believe it or not, Granite splits easier. We moved them with a large backhoe that a friend owned. We could lift up to a two ton block. Sandstone is about 160 pounds a cubic foot, Granite is heavier, so our largest block was about 3000 pounds. Regards....Doc
@@dr.durellshepard398 WOW and double dang. I guess that bridge isn't going anywhere. The exterior of the NMAI Museum on the DC Mall is made of sandstone. It is not a traditional building, but rather an art form. There are photos of it on the net. There were some very small blocks leftover and we got permission to take them as souvenirs. I carved NMAI, 2004, and my intials, on 3 of the 4"x12" flat sides of my block as a rememberance. The blocks were aproximately 12x12x4 inches. They were basically used as a facia veneer. The 12" x 12" face was very rough.
@@robertrobert7924 Hi Robert, That is a nice customized remembrance of your time there. I looked at the on line photos and it appears to be a lighter whitish-yellow than the stone I used. Mine is more reddish. Mine originally came form the Portland, Conn. brownstone quarry, which provided stone for the brownstones in Brooklyn N.Y. among many other sites. It's all great.....Doc
Felicitaciones! El mejor vídeo que he visto, mostrando un Sharps en detalle.
Muchas gracias por el amable comentario. Me alegra que hayas disfrutado del vídeo del rifle Sharps.
Fue muy divertido hacer los cartuchos. Mis mejores deseos desde EE.UU.
Amazing accuracy from this old Sharps! Well done, Doctor!
The rifle is more than twice as old as I am, but it still can shoot far better than I can see.
One of my favorite guns thanks and I appreciate the effort you put into your videos.
Hi Christopher, Gotta love the Sharps, so much history. Thanks for watching......Doc
Great rifle I want one,
great work on making this video
Thanks so much for the kind comments, Happy shooting.....Doc
As always, good job! I especially liked the deep dive into the pellet priming system. I have a 50-70 conversion rifle and carbine that still retain this mechanism. I use starched linen in my Ped repo and get 100% ignition.
Hello and Happy Shooting for the new year ! I appreciate the commentary also. I never tried starched linen, does it totally burn up in the chamber ?
@@dr.durellshepard398 Yes, leaves only ash. I use a 10 to 1 mix of Peal starch, hang to dry and then iron it. Comes out like a piece of paper. I cap the end with tea bag paper, seems like my wife has a life time supply for me. You can varnish the completed cartridge if you need some moisture protection. The vanished cartridge is almost as solid as a brass case and leaves only ash. Shoot straight my friend.
@@oldscoutgp Very interesting, I will take a serious look at that technique, thank you. I am a little apprehensive about letting the wife see me with an iron in my hand! She'll have me starching and ironing doilies and tea cozy's etc, etc, ....................... (º¿º ) [ old guy "emotion icon"]
@@dr.durellshepard398 Oh no, you do not want to go down that road. Best done with no supervision, along with appropriating tea bags for the superior end cap paper.
@@oldscoutgp Amen, Brother !
Awesome video. I have a Pedersoli Sharps carbine. I make my Sharps cartridges very similar to yours except that I use either decorative tissue or tracing paper for the base, which appears to be a little more durable than the paper towel you use, but is still thin enough for the percussion cap to blow through. I also use the Era Gone .54 Richmond Sharps bullet. I really enjoy your videos. Thanks.
Hello and thanks for commenting. A friend of mine has a Pedersoli, a very nice arm, I'm sure you have great fun shooting yours. Yes, the paper towel is very flimsy, but I shoot them as soon as I load them. They wouldn't transport well. It is very porous, so they are sure fire, even when using the weak re-enactor caps. I love the Era Gone .54 Richmond Sharps bullet, and have used it in my Starr carbine with good results, but the ring tail fit this gun well. Regards...Doc
i enjoyed this. Thanks
Thank you for the kind comment.
Thank You, really interesting information on the pellet priming system.
Hi Tom, Glad you found it interesting, it truly is a different concept. The second patent on the primers was a Lawrence modification. Regards....Doc
Another great video Doc, perhaps one of your best yet! I really enjoyed seeing the pellet primers and tube. I was hoping you were going to replicate and shoot them - LOL! Keep up the great videos 🙂
Hi Steve, Good to hear from you. Yes, that priming system is really clever. I did think about making some, but chickened out ...................Doc
This gun was made here in Hartford at the Sharpes plant on Rifle (now Capitol) Avenue. Alas, the factory was torn down in 1966.
Hello Sir, and thank you for commenting with the additional information. So unfortunate they demolished the old factory instead of repurposing it like Winchesters & Marlins.
Nice video I subbed great location and film work I noticed you are a southpaw so am I. Keep the videos coming
Welcome aboard Sir, glad you found the channel. Southpaws Unite ! Thanks so much for mentioning the film-work, I do put considerable time into it. Regards.....Doc
Great video
Thanks so much !
thanks again for these videos
Hi Richard, Thanks so much for your support of the channel, glad you enjoy the content.......Doc
I really enjoyed the video and cinematography is excellent. So much here to enjoy. I was wondering if you had to clean the breech of fouling during the shooting? I had never seen the a pellet primer and wondered what they looked like. Also interesting stone bridge you don’t see many of those out west.
Glad you found it interesting, and thanks so much for the neighborly commentary. I did wipe the bore on occasion, the breech did get sluggish but not inoperable. I built the stone bridge about 25 years ago out of salvaged stone blocks. Regards....Doc
Have a 1852 model sharps.calvary been converted to a brass 50/70 i think the other Springfield i have are all 45/70
Hi John, Always good to hear from another Sharps enthusiast. There design did lend themselves well to cartridge conversion, many others did not. Happy shooting.....Doc
Very good!!!!Super!
Hello and thank you for the kind comment. Glad you enjoyed the show.....Doc
Wow, Doc! I truely enjoy watching your guns, and also your surroundings, and the way you work. I used to have a Civil War Sharps saddle ring carbine, with the pellet priming system intakt. I never shot it, but the person who bought it uses it a lot, and is very happy with it. He shoots full loads, and the action seals gas tight. The gas seal / falling block design is very interesting. We always hear how air pockets must be avoided in black powder loads, but the block in these have a hollow cavity behind the chamber. There will allways be an air gap in these, and it is made intentionally. I have often wondered if this gives a "magnum" effect, or if it helps gas sealing the mechanism? I suspect the mechanism to gas seal better with full loads, rather than reduced loads? Yours seemed to do real well. Replica percussion Sharps often struggle with the gas seal. Their mechanism is simpified, and not true to the originals. They do not have the hollow cavity in the block. At least the ones that I've seen. I have more faith in original guns, and quit replikas years ago. Thanks for sharing, you're the best!
Hi John, I was thinking, while making this video that you may enjoy this gun. I've been looking at it for years and this was the first time I shot it. I was not disappointed. And thanks so much for the kind words and comments. As for the air pockets, I was thinking the same thing myself. But, then I concluded that these guns were shot millions of times and they were fine. So I guess if the powder is burning in a controlled way, ...off the back of the cartridge, into the air space, it is OK. But if it allowed to burn front to back or all at once, then it could detonate. Similar to a small charge,.... of slow burning smokeless...... in a very large case.
My 1853 Sharps has a tiny air space and a platinum seal, I have not shot it yet. Regards....Doc
@@dr.durellshepard398 Very interesting, Doc! I have also been thinking that this "controlled" airspace in the rear of the load, somehow has a different effect than an unproperly seated ball in a muzzleloader. Probably some knowledge and wisdom that has gotten lost over time here. I am often impressed what they accomplished back in the day, by quite primitive means. Clever guys!
@@Dimwit_the_last_mountainman Amen, John, Amen
Does the sleeve in the breech move freely?
Hello Sir, Even when the plate is totally clean it doesn't seem to do much, and gets frozen with fouling in short order. Still a super arm. Regards ...Doc
where did you find one in that good of quality. I've been looking for one for a while.
Hello Noah, I purchased it at a gun show about ten years ago, from a really nice old gentleman who specialized in antique arms. He has since passed but is fondly remembered for his knowledge and reputably dealings. They are out there....Best of luck....Doc
What is the muzzle velocity of your original paper cartridge ？😃
Hello Sir, and thanks for viewing. I didn't collect data on this shoot but my guess is around 900 fps. ..............Doc
Hello Doc, again I really enjoyed this video. Im curiuos, at what point did you apply lube to your bullets, i'm guessing you dipped them sometime after you finished the construction of the round. Thanks again, Jeff
Hi Jeff, I lubed the bullets just after final construction simply by rubbing a stick of SPG onto them and smoothing it out. That works OK for a smaller number of rounds......Doc
That is one Beautiful Rifle... My greatest regret was selling my Enfield 1858 3 Band reproduction made by Enfield in the UK!
Hello Sir , and thank you for commenting. Your Enfield sounded great, perhaps you find another. Happy holidays....Doc
Piękna flinta !
Dzień dobry Panu. Dziękujemy za obejrzenie filmu.
((Beautiful shotgun!))
((Hello Sir. Thank you for watching the video.))
.
You have amazing videos, I am an active shooter with black powder guns and Sharps rifles. I hold the Slovak record:-) I used to have videos here with almost 4000 subcribes, but I deleted the videos and the channel is currently inactive. Where are you from ? Best regards, Rado
Dobrý deň Rado, ďakujem za milý komentár. Môj starý otec bol zo Slovenska. I am in USA on the East coast. Congratulations on your shooting record. I would have enjoyed seeing your videos. Did You-Tube give you a hard time about them? It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Regards ....Doc
What Was That Buffer Material You Used In The Paper Cartridges Doc Talcum Powder Or Flour 😀 I Never Knew You Could Print Out Papers From Sharps Too Roll Your Own Cartridges 😎😇😊 Really Neat Rifle And a Good Shooter
Hi Chris, Cream-of-wheat is the cheap filler. Can't have any air pockets in the BP cartridge. Thanks for the comment......Doc
Un ejemplar muy bien conservado como todos los que nos muestra en sus vídeos. En Espańa también ańadimos sémola de maíz a los cartuchos para completar las cargas de pólvora negra. Un saludo.
Hola Alberto, y gracias por tu continuo apoyo al canal. Me complace decir que esta pistola está en muy buenas condiciones. Disparo cargas reducidas en la mayoría de mis viejas armas, por lo que la harina de maíz es muy útil para llenar el espacio aéreo. Saludos desde USA.
I wish there was narration.
..........................no apologizes, mate..............................
I use nitrated coffee filters and get no fires started. Nice old sharps!
Hello Sir, and thanks for commenting. The nitrated coffee filters do burn exceeding well and make a superior cartridge. Much safer in the woods as you describe. Regards....Doc
I think the older we get the more we appreciate the old technology. Our elders were genius in manufacturing. Thanks for keeping our history alive.
@@dphillips4351Thanks so much, I totally agree, and thank you for doing the same.......Doc
Do you know how many commercials are playing before your video? Longer than I want to be forced to watch them.
Very sorry to hear that Sir. If you download a free advertisement blocking software they should all go away. I don't get a penny from the ads. They just distract from my content and annoy the viewer. Good luck......Doc